Three Days to Midterms
The streets three days before midterms were remarkably straightforward. Everyone walking by had their noses buried in summary notes or theory books, without exception. I wondered if they'd end up walking right into those books at this rate.
At any rate, in Salenium Saga, the quintessential academy fantasy RPG, "midterms" were an indispensable gimmick—one we'd face repeatedly alongside "finals."...
One of the game's more enjoyable elements was noticing how the atmosphere in the magic department shifted as exam season approached, along with changes in the characters' dialogue. The magic department's vibe, tied directly to studying, varied wildly by year.
First off... the fourth-years were business as usual. They spent more time on external fieldwork anyway, so exams were irrelevant—their grades got replaced by research results from those practicums. I had no idea how Melwood was faring. Rumor had it he was grinding away in grad school. I looked forward to seeing how much he'd grow.
The already-polished third-years exuded a perfectly restrained aura as exams loomed. The second-years, clumsy but battle-hardened by a year of survival, maintained iron discipline amid a storm of tension. And us clueless first-years?
"Urghhh... grrrghhh..."
"Aghblublublub..."
Something like that. Picture these types scattered everywhere.
If you asked, "Exams in three days—have you studied?" you'd get bricks flying at you from all directions. And who could blame them? As freshmen knowing nothing, they felt crushing pressure from their first midterms. Every grade and record here shaped their post-graduation specs.
These "midterms" weren't just a test—they separated those who'd stay at Salenium from those who'd leave. After they ended, anyone hitting a wall or deeming themselves unfit to survive the academy would fold up their enrollment dreams, toss them in the trash, and depart.
Where they went? No idea. What I did know: those "extras" who exited never reappeared in the story. Or they'd deny reality and vanish into the "darkness."
Plus... there was one guy who should've left even sooner but chose to retry. Thanks to my help, he'd overcome hardship on his own and set a firm goal. I knew him well.
A massive poster on the wall beside the lecture hall. Staring up at it was a petite girl with beige hair. On her shoulder perched a black slime cat.
"Millije."
My first comrade, the future grand spirit summoner who'd anchor my faction.
"Ah, S-S-Senior!"
Millije turned, beamed, and hurried over.
"Haven't run into you even in the dorms. Doing well?"
"Y-Yes!"
As I glanced up at her shoulder, the black kitten glared at me and hissed.
"Nero! Keep that up with Senior, and no treats!"
[......]
The cat stood there shedding tears, and Millije stroked it soothingly.
Heh heh. Nice to see her getting along so well with her spirit.
"Anyway, what brings you to the first-year magic lecture hall?"
"Just checking in. What's this?"
"Oh... it's the rankings."
"First-year magic department rankings, huh."
As I leaned in, Millije spread her arms to block me. Her small frame meant even fully extended, I saw everything anyway.
"Millije, can't block it like that."
"Ah, y-you... can look."
And so I did. Amid the densely packed names, under her arms, further down, even lower. Mid-pack, slightly in the lower half.
I spotted a familiar name there.
611th. Millije Heilo.
"611th."
"Ahaha..."
Millije gave a gloomy laugh.
"P-Pretty... low, right? Haha... with entrance scores like that..."
"Yeah, it's low."
"Ah..."
Aside from spirit affinity, she'd started with zero real skill.
"But low means more room to climb, doesn't it?"
"Huh?"
Her eyes widened at my words.
"Millije, are you satisfied with your spot?"
"...No, not at all. I want to rise."
Good. Motive aside, that mindset was a plus.
"Then can you climb into the top 100 by these midterms?"
I pointed to the top 100 bracket.
"T-The top... 100?"
"Basic theory's probably one-on-one duels with low-tier magic right now."
"...You know your stuff."
What? How many times had I run these first-year magic midterms?
"So just beat whoever you're up against perfectly."
No. Top 100 was just the start. I'd get her to second place this time—no, first.
Mid-pack to top 100 now, top 50 by finals, top 10 by next semester's first term.
Time for the right carrot and stick. That was the stick; now the carrot.
What to offer?
"Millije."
"How far with low-tier magic?"
"I can use them all fluently now!"
What monstrous talent.
"Mana sharing with your spirit?"
"I can pull Nero's mana one-way, but just a handful. Connection's unstable..."
Got it. That stage.
"Central district library has mid-tier magic books. Three days left—or three whole days. Practice one mid-tier spell to fluency, and sync with Nero for at least three handfuls of mana."
"Y-Yes!"
"Succeed, hit top 100... and I'll grant one wish within reason."
"R-Really? Senior? For real?"
Hey, I wasn't done. Wait, why are your eyes like that? Mistake? Wrong incentive?
No. I trusted my junior.
"Promise, Senior!"
"...Fine. Promised."
With my confirmation, she whipped around and muttered feverishly.
"...Okay first totally crush opponent then no how about just slice with dagger cleaner maybe but opponent's mage so magic against magic..."
Hmm.
...Nah.
...Probably.
After sending Millije off, I headed to the knight department. Someone else I needed to see before exams was there.
Unlike magic, knights weren't obsessed with midterms or finals.
"Ah! Adrian!"
"Kalen."
Kalen approached grinning, wooden sword in one hand, the shield I'd given him in the other.
"Shield training not too tough?"
"It's fine. Fun, even. Can't wait to master it properly and help you, Adrian."
Don't say that—it's embarrassing.
Anyway, he'd been practicing for midterms, stepped out for lunch, and run into me.
"Heard knight midterms are spars."
"Yes. Five matches over three days. Two day one, two day two, one finale. That sets rankings."
Ah, nostalgic. Did tons as Erhan.
Throwing a glove was a "duel challenge." Duel someone ranked higher and win—or accept and beat a challenger—for points. Recalculate rankings from there. That was knight midterms.
"Last time?"
"96th as first-year. Barely scraped top 100."
"Aim top 50 this time, then."
"Ah, exactly! Oh, Adrian—any more dungeons? Feels like I grew in there... even now."
Ah. Bond synergy, probably.
"Focus on midterms. I'll call when it's time."
"Yep!"
Kalen fidgeted.
"More to say?"
"Um, well..."
"Hm?"
"Magic midterms are three days too, right? Last duel ends similar... if you have time, could you watch? N-No pressure!"
What, that?
"I'll swing by if I can."
"Yes... please! You must!"
He waved grinning and vanished.
Done with Kalen. No one left. Time to head back.
Exams await.
And so, midterms began—my survival and everyone's hopes on the line.
Good scores boosted reputation effortlessly, spiked affinity even passively. Perfect chance to win my student council bet and claw my rock-bottom campus rep out of the gutter.
First up: herbology, in magic lecture hall's Room 1.
I eyed the table: tiny cauldron, herbs, water.
Blackboard blared "1 HOUR."
Simple: brew "Magradi's Tear" potion from given herbs in time.
Restores stamina, purges toxins, boosts mana regen. Essential for mages, but key ingredient "Magradi grass" is rare—supply lags demand.
Prof tastes and scores it. No room for error.
"Hm..."
Scanning herbs, I realized: piles of low-tier stuff, potions, cauldron...
But only my table lacked the key "Magradi grass."
Tch. Running five minutes late from seeing Kalen did me in. Petty sabotage—whoever took it. Or just to screw me over.
"Doesn't matter."
One missing herb? No sweat. Enduring bullshit and conjuring from nothing—that's the veteran way.
And I was rotten with age in this world.